Nearly one million young people in the United Kingdom are currently out of work or education, according to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics. This marks an increase of 60,000 individuals aged 16 to 24 classified as not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) since the Labour party came to power two years ago.

The total number of NEETs stood at 981,000 in the three months leading up to June. While this figure is down from just over one million at the start of 2026, it represents a 30,000 increase compared to the same period last year. The current figure means that 13 percent, or one in eight, of young people in this age group fall into the NEET category.

The data comes as concerns mount over the impact of recent government policies, including National Insurance hikes and minimum wage increases, on youth employment. Business groups have also warned that upcoming worker rights legislation could further discourage hiring.

The number of NEETs was 920,000 in the second quarter of 2024, the period immediately preceding the current government's ascent to power. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that addressing the youth unemployment crisis is a "top priority," acknowledging that it has been "ignored for too long."

A government-backed report on the issue is being prepared by former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn. He described the situation as "a scar on this country," adding, "Young people are desperate for an opportunity to learn or earn. Instead, we're creating a lost generation."

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride criticized the government's approach, stating that "Labour are burying the future of young people under higher taxes and mountains of red tape."

Lindsay Judge of the Resolution Foundation, a left-wing think tank, commented that the data is "a worrying sign that Britain's NEETs crisis is a long way from easing."

Meanwhile, in a separate but related discussion on the future of work, accounting and consulting firm EY is considering requiring junior employees to return to the office. The firm's Sayeh Ghanbari suggested that working from home may not be conducive to success, particularly in the evolving landscape shaped by artificial intelligence. Ghanbari highlighted the increasing importance of interpersonal skills, which are developed through in-person interaction, as AI takes over more technical tasks.